Robert Arnoux
Summary
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux manages 14.5 hectares across six Côte de Nuits communes, crafting Pinot Noir from limestone-clay soils that include four Grand Cru and multiple Premier Cru sites with vines averaging 40 years old. Under Charles Lachaux's leadership since 2012, the family estate employs distinctive practices including higher trellising, earlier harvesting, reduced oak influence, and whole-cluster fermentations to achieve precise terroir expression through their organic, low-yield approach.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, originally established as Domaine Robert Arnoux in 1956, represents three generations of winemaking expertise in Vosne-Romanée. Robert Arnoux founded the estate and guided its development until his passing in 1995, at which point his son-in-law Pascal Lachaux assumed leadership. Pascal had been working alongside Robert since 1987, ensuring continuity in the domaine's approach while gradually implementing his own refinements. In 2012, a significant transition occurred when Pascal's son Charles Lachaux, after completing his enology studies, took over winemaking responsibilities. This generational shift was formalized in the domaine's name change from Robert Arnoux to Arnoux-Lachaux, reflecting both the heritage and the future direction of the family business. Under Charles Lachaux's direction, the domaine has maintained its focus on expressing the distinct terroirs of their holdings while implementing thoughtful adjustments to viticulture and winemaking practices.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux manages 14.5 hectares of vineyards spread across six communes in the Côte de Nuits. Their holdings include parcels in four Grand Cru appellations: Romanée-Saint-Vivant (0.35 hectares), Échezeaux (0.95 hectares), Latricières-Chambertin (0.53 hectares), and Clos de Vougeot (0.45 hectares). The domaine also cultivates vines in several Premier Cru sites, including Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots, Les Chaumes, and Les Petits Monts, as well as Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Procès and Clos des Corvées Pagets. Village-level holdings extend through Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, and Bourgogne. The vineyards feature limestone-clay soils typical of the Côte de Nuits, with variations in limestone content and drainage contributing to the distinctive character of each site. The domaine's oldest vines date back to the 1920s, with an average vine age of approximately 40 years across their holdings. Pinot Noir comprises 100% of their plantings, with particular attention paid to massal selection for maintaining genetic diversity.
Philosophy & Practice
Under Charles Lachaux's direction, Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux has embraced a comprehensive approach to vineyard management that emphasizes vine health and natural balance. The domaine practices organic viticulture throughout their holdings, with particular attention to soil health through cover cropping and minimal tilling. In the vineyards, Charles has implemented higher trellising systems (up to 180cm) to increase photosynthetic capacity and has adopted gentler pruning methods to improve sap flow. Harvest typically occurs earlier than neighboring estates to preserve acidity and freshness, with yields intentionally kept low at 25-30 hectoliters per hectare. In the cellar, fermentations proceed with native yeasts and incorporate varying percentages of whole clusters depending on the vineyard and vintage, typically ranging from 30-100%. The domaine has progressively reduced new oak usage to between 10-30% for most cuvées, with aging periods of 15-18 months in barrel. Bottling is done without fining or filtration to preserve the wines' natural character. These methodical adjustments reflect the domaine's commitment to transparent expression of Burgundy's diverse terroirs.